As a foster parent, you have the opportunity to help children heal from past trauma by providing a safe and nurturing home. Your guidance and support are invaluable during such a critical time in their lives. But the process of becoming a foster parent can seem daunting–after all, you are bringing a child into your home, so where do you start? How long does it take?
We have some great resources for anyone considering becoming a foster parent! These “first steps” allow you to watch a video on your schedule or ask a licensed foster parent questions in real-time. Visit cornerstonesofcare.org/foster and:
- Download the informative “Become a Foster Parent 101: Everything You Need to Know” video that answers questions, addresses myths and so much more.
- Sign up to attend a Real Talk with a Real Foster Parent. These one-hour virtual chats allow you to speak candidly with a licensed foster parent, team member and like-minded individuals.
If you feel that becoming a foster parent is right for you, there are things to expect on your journey. Though the sequence may vary in each state, the road to becoming a foster parent in Kansas and Missouri will include:
- An orientation meeting to learn more about the process.
- Trainings are essential. You must participate in 30 hours of NTDC (National Training and Development Curriculum) or its equivalent, and trainings in CPR, first aid and more.
- A team member will conduct an initial home visit to tour the premises, meet all family members living in the home and get you started on the paperwork. This visit can last up to two hours.
- Be prepared–you will encounter a mountain of paperwork! But we will be by your side, providing you with a list of what is needed to help ensure you are prepared to accept a child into your home.
- Be ready to open up and talk about yourself a lot! A home study is all about you. It’s an assessment of your past and current history, family life, motivation for wanting to foster, type of children you are willing to take into your home and much more.
- To ensure the safety of anyone entering your home, we run criminal background checks on members of your household.
Once all the paperwork and home study are submitted, trainings and background checks are completed and Cornerstones of Care has approved you to be a foster parent, you will receive a vendor number and contract from the state. At that point, you will be fully licensed to accept a child into your home! While there is no set timeline from start to finish because so many variables can shorten or lengthen the timeframe, the process typically takes 4-6 months after starting training courses to be fully licensed and ready for placement.
To learn more, visit cornerstonesofcare.org/fosteradopt or call us at 1-855-SRV-KIDS (855-778-5437).